Yet another for our Russian experts, please!

[GMichalski]

Hi,

very interesting thread,

you write this loss:

- 16-17.2.1942 (night) Capt Vasiliy T. Yachmenyev and Sn.Lt Mikhail N. Rudzevich were found dead at crash site at Lake Sennoye - apparently shot down by German fighters

who were the possible victors?

regards

[Brian]

Hi guys

Further to Nikolai Gubin's heroics in saving his aircraft and landing it relatively safely, how would this have been accomplished from the rear seat of a tandem-seated aircraft with a dead pilot strapped into the cockpit? How would he have manipulated the controls, especially for landing?

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hi GMichalski

My records show that Uffz Erwin Zeuschel of 4./JG5 claimed the R-5.

Cheers
Brian

[kirche]

Originally Posted by Brian

Hi guys

Further to Nikolai Gubin's heroics in saving his aircraft and landing it relatively safely, how would this have been accomplished from the rear seat of a tandem-seated aircraft with a dead pilot strapped into the cockpit? How would he have manipulated the controls, especially for landing?

Cheers
Brian

Hi Brian,
Quote from comrade: "R-5 used double system: both pilot and observer could control plane.

Nikolay D. Gubin - test pilot 1-st rank, colonel"
http://testpilot.ru/base/2016/11/gubin-n-d/

Regards,
Kirill (and Sergey)

[Brian]

Many thanks, Kirill

The answer is obvious when one knows the facts! But still a great feat!

Cheers
Brian

[Juha]

Hello Brian
There is also the difficult and dangerous way, see: http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2009/10...-selviytyminen

In reality the plane was a Fokker C.X biplane, serial FK-109. The landing wasn't so good because there was not enough space for pulling the stick enough backwards for a proper flare out because Kahla, the observer, was sitting on the laps of the dead pilot.

Juha

[GMichalski]

hi,

thank you for the info,

regards

[Brian]

Hi Juha

Thanks for that but unfortunately it didn't translate very well! The video helped me understand, though!

Do you have the names of the two airmen? And the date of the incident?

Cheers
Brian

[Juha]

Hello Brian
yes, Finnish is very difficult language for non-speakers.
12 Aug 1942 FK-109 of the Lentolaivue 16 (Squadron) while flying a recce East of Lake Onega. The pilot, second lieutenant Pentti Mannermaa was killed by ground fire and the observer, lieutenant Paavo Kahla flew the plane back. He had already been awarded with a Mannerheim Cross, 2nd class, our Victoria Cross, earlier in 1942. The plane was damaged but was repaired.

HTH
Juha

[Brian]

Many thanks, Juha

Did Kahla receive an additional award for his performance?

Cheers
Brian